The Democratic presidential candidate’s staggering request comes at a time when Congress remains engaged in a heated debate over spending federal dollars on parochial projects.
It also has gained traction on the campaign trail. Presumptive GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), a longtime foe of earmarks, has called for eliminating what he dubs “wasteful Washington spending.” Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) has spurned earmarks, seeking no funds for pet projects in the upcoming fiscal year.
Yet Clinton is continuing to request billions for earmarks, most of which will go to her home state.
The money is needed for homeland security, emergency response and health projects throughout New York, according to documents provided by her office.
The total amount Clinton requested greatly surpasses the $837 million secured last year by Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi, the ranking Republican on the Appropriations Committee who took home the largest dollar amount of earmarks in the current fiscal year’s spending bills. In those bills, Clinton secured $342 million in earmarks.
That's right folks, even with the economy slowing down to a crawl, Hillary is asking for an almost record amount of earmarks. That's around $7.50 for every man, woman, and child in America. Doesn't sound like much, but none of that money is going to go to you. It's going to go to New York for homeland security (even though they already have a budget), emergency response (even though they have a budget), and health projects (which you won't benefit from).
And of course, these agencies would NEVER waste money now would they?
It takes a lot of nerve and some good bullshit skills to badmouth George Bush's economic policies, then turn right around and not even bother to offer a balanced budget and seek a record amount of earmarks.
Now the article does state that Obama isn't seeking earmarks this fiscal year (of course because of the Presidential race), but last year he asked for $91 million, and once he asked for money towards his wife's employer.
It pains me to see politicians try to basically buy a vote, but it pains me even worse to see such unbelievable waste when what we need right now is a simple amount of belt tightening. Even Bill Clinton knew to make cuts, he just made them to the wrong programs.
Personally, I don't see why we can't have a program that rewards people for finding ways to save the government money.
For example, if a government worker finds a way to save us $30,000 a year, they should get a check for 25% of that amount for say 2-3 years, as long as it's being continually used.
It gives people an incentive to find ways to save hard earned tax payer dollars, AND we as taxpayers save 75% across various programs.
It's really win-win for everyone involved.
Then you don't have to raise taxes, AND you get to keep the tax cuts that you've put into play.
If an emergency happens, then yes, we may have to issue treasury bonds or borrow from another country, but those issues should be few and far between.
While we're at it, we should also instill people with personal responsibility.
That means that the government doesn't owe you shit. You work for a living. If you are warned that a natural disaster is coming days ahead and you don't leave, you're on your own. If you borrow money to buy a house you can't afford, you file bankruptcy and move into an apartment.
It's basic ideas like this that have gotten us through the 220+ years of our existence, so I fail to see why ways that have worked for centuries suddenly need to be changed.
Travis
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